PPA confident about two seats,
says DP experience a liability
PHILIPSBURG--People’s Progressive Alliance (PPA) last night named a slate of eighteen candidates who will be contesting the April 20 Island Council election, said it was confident it would win at least two seats, and charged that the DP’s 50 years of experience had become a liability.
“We have a balanced ticket. We made no deals for people to get on our slate. We have two seats. With hard work, it is possible to seal three seats. We are looking forward to a great election,” said PPA leader Gracita Arrindell in introducing the 18 PPA candidates to the media at the PPA faction office Wednesday night.
The party’s list includes four more candidates than the list of 14 candidates it fielded in the 2003 Island Council election – its first – in which it won one seat.
“Our commitment to the people of St. Maarten in this election is to involve you, the voter of St. Maarten, in the decision-making process of your government as a natural interaction between government and citizens. The PPA is not about taking revenge to get or stay in power as some of our worthy political opponents recently predicted,” she said.
PPA very much doubts that the experience of the Democratic Party (DP) will lead St. Maarten in the right direction. “The people have had enough. I guarantee you that with the PPA in government, there will be change for the better,” said Johan “Janchi” Leonard, number two on the PPA slate.
Candidate number three Maria Bas added: “With the 50 years of experience the DP has in government they still make roundabouts more important than the youth. That is nothing to boast about. After 50 years the DP wasn’t experienced enough to put all checks and balances in place. It was the Dutch who had to bring the balance to our cheques. The DP experience has turned into a liability.”
Arrindell said in addition that a vote for DP and National Alliance (NA) under the present leadership would be a vote for keeping the balance of power as is. “A vote for the DP that today again asks you for your vote because of what they refer to as their great experience is a vote for more experience in bankruptcy, conflict of interest, terrible governance, destruction of our environment and mismanagement,” she said.
She said PPA wholeheartedly supported the call by St. Maarten/Saint Martin Christian Council and St. Maarten United Ministerial Foundation to have a free and fair election on April 20 conducted along the lines of their published code of ethics.
Finally, she appealed to the voters of St. Maarten: “Your vote for the PPA candidates and its leader is a firm commitment to good governance and by extension for a brighter future for our people. We ask you humbly for your trust and support once more, this time to be able to be in government and serve you with dignity once again.”
Arrindell named the following 18 persons as the PPA candidates in the April 20 Island Council election:
1. Gracita Arrindell
2. Johan Leonard
3. Maria Bas
4. Don Hughes
5. Philip van Delden
6. Christopher Emmanuel
7. Les Brown
8. Michael Frederick
9. Lorna Richardson
10. Roy Lynch
11. Franklyn Patrick
12. Roberto Hunt
13. Lenny Marlin
14. Arnold Brown
15. Ammarette Maccou-Hodge
16. Ottmar Henrietta
17. Hen Ling Soon
18. Bobby Ottley
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